All eyes on Texas, S.C. church property fights
St. Michael's, a church within the Diocese of South Carolina, is one of the most prominent Episcopal churches in Charleston, S.C. RNS photo by Kevin Eckstrom
(RNS) When disgruntled congregations have left hierarchical denominations, civil courts traditionally have said buildings and land are not theirs to keep. But outcomes could be different this year as high-profile cases wind their way through courts in Texas and South Carolina.